Beschreibung:

A good Boer War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Fairweather, Kaffrarian Rifles, who was three times wounded and twice Mentioned in Despatches during the Boer War, doing especially good service at the Relief of Wepener; he subsequently commanded the South African Railway Regiment in German South West Africa during the Great War and was later given the command of the South African Motor Cyclist Corps. He was killed in action on 18 February 1917, ‘dying as he would himself have chosen, in action serving the Empire’ Distinguished Service Order, V.R.. silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Wepener, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Capt. J. M. Fairweather, D.S.O. Kaffrn. Rif:) unit offficially re-engraved so as to incorporate post-nominal initials after surname; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Capt. J. M. Fairweather, D.S.O. Kaffrn. Rif.); 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. J. Mc.I. Fairweather 11th Infantry); British War and bilingual Victory Medals (Lt. Col. J. Mc.I. Fairweather.) the Boer War awards mounted as worn and housed in a Spink, London, case, the Great War awards loose, generally nearly extremely fine (6) £3000-4000 Footnote D.S.O. London Gazette 31 October 1902. James McIntyre Fairweather was born in Dundee, Scotland, on 13 October 1876, the eldest son of Joseph Fairweather, esq., Sculptor, and was educated at the Harris Academy, Dundee, and by private tutors. Originally intended for the legal profession, he went to South Africa in 1896 and joined the Staff of the East London Harbour Board. On the outbreak of the Boer War he was Assistant Town Clerk at East London, and volunteered for active service with the Kaffrarian Rifles, receiving a commission in that Corps, later being promoted Captain and Adjutant. He was present in operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including the defence of Wepener; operations in Orange River Colony (May to 29 November 1900), including the action at Witterbergen (1 to 29 July); and operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. He was three times wounded, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches in March 1901 and March 1902. Doing especially good service at the Relief of Wepener and at Quaggasfontein, he also commanded the troops which entered the town when Aliwal North was ceded by the rebels, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. On the cessation of hostilities Fairweather was offered a commission in the Regular Army, but deciding to return to civilian life, and accepted a position on the Headquarters Staff of the Central South African Railways, subsequently rising to hold the post of Superintendent attached to the personal Staff of Sir William Hoy, General Manager of the South African Railways. At the time of the Union, he rendered valuable service as one of the special Committee who undertook the task of assimilating the general conditions of service for the administration of the entire staff (involving over 60,000 employees) of the Union Railways. He took a keen interest in military matters in South Africa, and after the Union became Commanding Officer of the Transvaal Motor and Cycle Corps, and later of the Rand Light Infantry. In 1913, during the July disturbances on the Rand, he was in military control of Bramfontein, and again during the strike in January 1914, he rendered valuable services. In July 1914, Fairweather was one of two South African officers who left for England on the invitation of the War Office to represent the Union Defence Department at the autumn army manoeuvres. He arrived in England a few days after the declaration of war, and sought permission to proceed to the Western Front, but was instructed to return at once to South Africa. On the suppression of the Rebellion he proceeded to German South West Africa with the Rand Light Infantry. A new regiment had to be formed in German South West Africa to expedite the reconstruction of the des